Professor Iain McEwan

Biography

Iain McEwan graduated with a first in Biochemistry from the University of Strathclyde in 1983, and went on to gain a PhD in 1987 from the University of Glasgow.

From 1986-1989 he worked as a Postdoctoral research fellow at the Friedrich Meischer Institute in Basel, Switzerland. He then moved to Sweden where he gained experience working as a Postdoctoral research fellow at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm and then as a Junior group leader in the Department of Biosciences at Novum, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

In 1997 he moved south (!) to take up a lectureship at the University of Aberdeen and in 2003 was made a Senior Lecturer, Reader in 2005 and awarded a Personal Chair in 2009.

Research Overview

The research of my group focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms of action of the human androgen receptor and translating fundametal descoveries to the clinic. The androgen receptor is an intracellular receptor protein that acts as the 'gatekeeper' for the actions of the male steroid hormones testosterone and dehydrotestosterone. The androgen receptor functions as a liganded-activated transcription factor that both up-and down-regulates networks of genes in target tissues. Mutations in the receptor can lead to a disruption of male development (androgen insensitivity) and a neuromuscular degenerative disorder (Kennedy's disease). Mutations have also been identified in patients with prostate cancer both before and after hormone therapy. It has been proposed that such mutations may influence the effectiveness of androgen ablation therapy and play a role in the progression to hormone-refractory disease.

The androgen receptor is organised into discrete structural and functional domains, consisting of a central DNA binding domain (DBD), flanked by a C-terminal ligand binding domain (LBD), and a structurally distinct N-terminal domain (NTD) important for receptor-dependent transactivation. The androgen receptor can regulate both the initiation and elongation steps of the transcription cycle and we have identified and characterised an interaction between the receptor and the general transcription factor TFIIF, which appears important for the transcription initiation steps (see model). We have also shown that the androgen receptor-transactivation domain folds into a more stable conformation, possibly involving alpha-helix formation, resistant to protease attack, in the presence of the target protein TFIIF or the structure stabilising solutes trimethylene N-oxide (TMAO) and trifluorethanol (TFE). Thus our working hypothesis is that the receptor-NTD is structurally flexible, permitting multiple protein-protein interactions with the transcriptional machinery. Specific protein-protein interactions will induce folding of the receptor-transactivation domain and provide a platform for the assembly of a transcriptionally competent complex, containing basal transcription factors and co-activator proteins (SRC, CBP).

Recently, we have extended these studies to investigate the structure-function of the human mineralocorticoid receptor N-terminal domain. The mineralocorticoid receptor is a risk factor in hypertension, cardiovascular disease and metabolic synodrome. This region has a complex transactivation function consisting of different sub-domains which exhibit different functional and/or structural properties. Current work aims to investigate the translational potential of these studies in the treatment of hormone-dependent diseases.

Several potential PhD project opportunities are available:

• Therapeutic Targeting of the Structurally Plastic N-terminal Domain of Steroid Receptors
• Tissue-selective regulation and expression of the human androgen receptor gene

Current Research

Current research focuses on two main themes:

1. The expression and control of the androgen receptor gene in male and female tissues, including prostate, bladder and bone. We are also investigating the role of steroid hormones action on immune cell function in health and cancer. These projects are in collaboration with Professor Heather Wilson (IMS https://www.abdn.ac.uk/ims/research/profiles/h.m.wilson) and Professor Philippa Saunders and Dr Douglas Gibson University of Edinburgh.

2. Developing novel therapeutic strategies to switch off androgen receptor function in cancer cells. These projects involve medicinal chemistry approaches to synthesising bespoke small molecule inhibitors and novel biologics called SoloMERs in collaboration with the biopharmaceutical company Elasmogen (https://www.elasmogen.com/about-elasmogen/).

Collaborations

My group collaborates with a number of colleagues in both nationally (UK) and internationally (The Netherlands, Spain and North America). Current interdisplenary collaborative projects focus on mathematical modelling of gene expression and medicinal chemistry. We also have a collaboration with a local biopharmacetical company, called Elasmogen invetigating biologics as novel therapeutics in hormone-dependent cancers. 

Funding and Grants

Research in my laboratory is currently supported by:

Projects grants from the Prostate Cancer Research Centre (https://www.prostate-cancer-research.org.uk/), the Medical Research Council (DPFS award) (https://mrc.ukri.org/) and Pilot STudy Award from Friends of Anchor (https://www.friendsofanchor.org/).

PhD studentship awards from Cranes (https://www.cranes.org.uk/), EASTBIO-BBSRC (http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/) and Aberdeen Cancer PhD programme (https://www.abdn.ac.uk/smmsn/research/biobank-1025.php).

Teaching Responsibilities

I am course coordinator for Honours Biochemistry Option 1 (BC4014).

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Personal Tutor